The following article deliciously and (in my opinion) exquisitely details why 5G is not at all a viable substitute for fiber.

“As the 5G wireless network is more expensive for the initial capex (capital expenditure) as well as opex (operating expenses) and provides 1 percent of the broadband speed and capacity available on an FTTP network, it is unlikely to be a good investment if used only for fixed broadband services. There may be some select scenarios for which it makes economic sense, but one would expect those scenarios to be limited.”

“But to deliver the high speeds and high capacity that many hope for, 5G requires a deep fiber network very similar to FTTP. When one puts fiber so deep into a network, why stop at the small cell rather than at the premises a few hundred feet away?

Fiber to the premises allows much higher speeds and availability without the same kinds of capacity limitations.”

3) A new book [https://www.ubcpress.ca/breaching-the-peace], written to show the sordid history of Site C, through 3 Premiers who have broken promises and deceived the voters. Horgan can still reclaim some of his reputation if he cancels this horrid deal. And remember that the smeters were treated in the very same manner.

In 2008, BCUC rejected an application for the program based on the benefits not justifying the costs and the technology being too new to be trustworthy. So, like Site C, the Liberals wrote the Clean Energy Act and mandated these 2 very expensive ‘Un-green” projects, prevented all oversight by the BCUC, and gave a green light to BC Hydro to run rampant over our rights and the environment. Perhaps the author will consider another book about the smeters.

– https://www.ubcpress.ca/breaching-the-peace

The three decades of sordid political shenanigans behind the Site C dam

“Journalist Sarah Cox, an environmental reporter based in the BC legislature in Victoria, is one such person. She has written a searing new book about the scandalous Site C Dam in British Columbia, “Breaching the Peace.” Published by On Point Press, a trade imprint of UBC Press, it hits shelves in May, and the author will be travelling the country on a book-tour.

Cox’s work is so much more than a rough draft of history. It is a heart-wrenching, detailed chronicle of yet another sorry environmental and human disaster in a province as cursed by its politicians as it is blessed by Nature. It tells the story of the failure of due process and the triumph of misinformation. And the first-time author presents a documented indictment of a political system that that looks like it was designed by Donald Trump – without a chief-of-staff.”

5) Andy Shadrack, who sent in info about the FortisBC application for a flat fee structure for its electricity customers, is very concerned that FortisBC already charges higher rates than BC Hydro does. If the flat rate is approved, the rates will increase even more, which will become onerous for many on fixed and lower incomes. Below, please see another email asking for people who are FortisBC customers to help put pressure on the BCUC to refuse this application. If you do, and do not wish to make the information public, you can request that personal info. be redacted before it is put on the BCUC website.

– Their Annual income if they are comfortable sharing their Annual cost of electricity.

– What they feel about a 16.7% increase in the Basic Charge over 5 years, when increases under 58.1(6) are supposed to be kept to 2% per annum, before any annual incremental rate changes are added in.

– What they feel about the Tier 1 rate (under 800 kWh per month and 1,600 per two month billing period) also rising by 16.3%, before we add in any incremental energy rate changes between 2019 and 2023.